Trees company: academic praised for forestry work

A Honorary Research Fellow at The University of Manchester has been awarded European Young Urban Forester of the Year (2014), by the European Forum on Urban Forestry (EFUF), meeting at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Dr Susannah Gill now works for Mersey Forest, a network of woodlands and green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside which has been creating woodlands for 20 years.

Working also at the School of Environment, Education and Development, she is a graduate of the University.

The EFUF is a European network of experts of the science and practice of forestry, urban and regional planning, land-use management and landscape architecture.

The main focus of the Forum is on how to maximise the contribution of green infrastructure, especially trees and woodland, to quality of life in towns and cities across Europe.

Susannah studied at the University of Manchester, gaining a BSc in2001; MSc in and a PhD 2006.

Her work on the role of urban greenspace in moderating climate change impacts in towns and cities has had a significant impact on policy and practice.

Since leaving the University of Manchester, Susannah has worked with the Mersey Community Forest.

She said: “It is great to have my work recognised with this award. I have been very lucky to find myself in such an interesting field and to work with such inspiring and encouraging people, both at The University of Manchester and then at The Mersey Forest.

“I have also been very fortunate to be able to undertake research through my PhD and then follow it into practice, whilst still having a close working relationship with the university.”

Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, said: “ Susannah has played a key role in the debate on urban trees and their role in adaptating our cities to climate change.

“Her high standards and evidence gathering, as well as excellent writing skills, provides us with robust data to argue for the urban forest. She is a high calibre advocate for community and urban forestry.”